Spy Kids * * * out of * * * * Starring: Carla Gugino, Antonio Banderas, Alex Vega, Daryl, Sabara, Alan Cumming, Teri Hatcher, Cheech Marin, Danny Trejo, Mike Judge, Tony Shalhoub. Directed by: Robert Rodriguez Rated: PG (mild violence)
After the genuinely repellent "family" comedy "See Spot Run"...I was starting to think that the good family movie genre was out. Alas "Spy Kids" opens and goes against all I just said, but it is the best family movie to come out in long time, and is the best time I had at the theaters so far this year. The young actors prove themselves worthwhile, and the adult actors are just as great.
Surprisingly from the man who directed violent movies such as "Desperado" and "From Dusk Till Dawn" there is barely any violence let alone blood or gore in this movie. Robert Rodriguez wrote, directed and produced this tale about two young kids Carmen and Juni Cortez who find out their parents (Carla Gugino, and Antonio Banderas) are international spies and have been kidnapped by an evil kids show host, who wants to take over the world. Of course the kids must take the action upon themselves and save their parents by using the nifty gadgets, spy equipment etc.
In the end the film is a rewarding experience worthy of multi viewings, and your kids and even yourself will find yourself loving this film. Young Alex Vega and Daryl Sabara (sister and brother characters) play Carmen and Juni Cortez, the two seem to be real life friends as they work great together and have a good onscreen chemistry. Carla Gugino (Snake Eyes) and Antonio Banderas (Desperado, Assassins) play the parents of the kids, and also have a surprising amount of strong chemistry between the two.
As for the supporting cast Alan Cumming (Spice World, and the current Josie and the Pussycats) plays the scheming bad guy and is a very good actor. He seems to be having fun as the bad guy, and some surprising information is given about him in the end. Teri Hatcher has a small role, and in her role she is deliciously diabolical and funny as well. Some other great cameos include many people from Rodriguez's earlier movies.
Rodriguez's cleverly written and witty script is that of a great one. His dialogue is snappy and comes quickly out of the actors/actresses's mouth. His plot is very easy for younger people to understand and follow, and has no sex, scatological humor, bloody/violence or even cussing. Only a mild amount of violence occurs in the film, and it's much nice to see this than some man falling out of a window with his pants off into dog poop.
"Spy Kids" is one of the funniest movies I've seen so far in the year 2001, and is the best kids movie so far. See it with your entire family, and even those who aren't fans of kiddy movies you might find yourself having a lot of fun with this one. A winner.
Reviewed by Brandon Herring (4-9-01) http://us.imdb.com/ReviewsBy?Brandon+Herring
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